Too much negativity in this thread. 1m is an amazing car and I am sure BMW will deliver with m2. F20 interior is much improved, lighter car will be agile and light on its feet and 340hp will be plenty!
I can't wait to see it in person, sketches look very promising.

I thought both 1 series and 2 series were more comparable to A3.. both about the same size.

For the past and current 1 series models, this is true.

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A1 is like TINY. It makes Mini Cooper look small. So I don't know how 1 series 3/5 doors are going to be more comparable to A1 than A3.

Because there will be different sized models as mentioned. So, the Urbanic 3/5 door models will compete with the A1 3/5 door models, while the standard 3/5 door 1 series hatchbacks (what we have today, though future versions will be based on the UKL platform and be FWD) will be in the same segment as the A3 3/5 door hatchbacks.

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2 series is competitor to A3 but 1 series is competitor to A1?

The 2 Series will be coupe/convertible, so there is no equivalent Audi really. You could count the TT, but the back seat in the coupe is less functional than what the 2 will offer, and the roadster does not have a back seat at all obviously.

Although you could also say that, loosely, the 2 Series GC will compete with the A3 sedan, I suppose. However, the future 1 Series sedan is probably the more natural comparison.

I'll take that bet. Although, really we are talking about more like 2020 or even later since the 2 is still quite a ways off yet. It most likely won't go on sale until 2014.

I don't think BMW will be able to deliver a suitable follow up to the 2, and especially the M2, on the UKL (or any other FWD) chassis. I suppose one could argue the same thing for the future 1 hatchbacks, especially compared against the new M135i, but we will see. The A45 in pre-release form has garnered good marks. I think BMW can top it, especially given all the experience they have with Mini and JCW.

But, like I say, with the 2/M2, I really think they will have to stick with RWD. The M135i is no 1M, and presumably no M2 either. There will be a gap there that I think they will seek to widen even further next time by using two separate strategies and platforms.

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Originally Posted by aajami

That's an interesting theory. You're guessing that BMW will use the F3X replacement platform to underpin the next-generation 2-series models (post F2X), rather than use the UKL platform that will be used in the post-F2X 1-series models. UKL is going to be much closer in size to the next-generation 2-series cars than the post-F3X 3-series platform will be, though. You're banking on that 3-series platform to be very flexible...

I'd love to see your theory come true, because I'm a firm believer that the world will always need a small RWD sedan. I guess we'll see in five years. Winner buys the other a beer in 2017?

has it been confirmed or even suggested that the 6 cyl. engines will persist in the line-up once the M2 4 cyl. comes out?

It has been neither confirmed nor refuted.

My opinion is that the 6 cylinder M135i model will remain in the lineup for the lifetime of the current F20/F21. Obviously that model will go away when the next generation front wheel drive platform takes over. In the meantime, there probably won't be much of an overlap period between the M135i and the M2 due to the fact that the 2 launch will trail the 1 launch by about three years, and the M2 will come even later yet.

For the future 2 Series lineup, the situation is less clear. Will there be just a standard 235i or just an M235i or both? Will the latter, if it exists, go away once the M2 arrives?

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might the n20 +/- a little more tweaking to say 260-270hp or so become the top non-M model?

In the future, this seems quite possible. For now, I think the N55 (or successor) will be there in the 2.

Ive been following BimmerPost for a while no on my app and this is now my first post. Please o please someone tell me that the M2 might have a straight 6!!! I understand the better gas mileage and lower emissions with the I4 but really? Cant they just make one with around 360HP that will not step on the toes of the M3/M4 ?? I would be greatly dissapointed not to be able to get a high performance straight 6 in a more compact car.

BMW is trying to capture a larger market share. By introducing cheaper models, they can do it. It's totally understandable from a business standpoint and I cannot fault BMW for that (every other company is doing the same thing), but as a brand, BMW has been watered down. BMW was once reserved for a certain type of driver. Now it is reserved for people who just care about the badge.

The E46 M3 and E39 M5 were the ultimate driver's cars. We will never see cars like that again.

Yeah. My 1m sucks. It's not a drivers car at all. I only care about the badge too.

Ive been following BimmerPost for a while no on my app and this is now my first post. Please o please someone tell me that the M2 might have a straight 6!!! I understand the better gas mileage and lower emissions with the I4 but really? Cant they just make one with around 360HP that will not step on the toes of the M3/M4 ?? I would be greatly dissapointed not to be able to get a high performance straight 6 in a more compact car.

1. Look up the E30 M3.
2. Imagine a similar motor with a ton of torque.
3. Take a midol.

Because there will be different sized models as mentioned. So, the Urbanic 3/5 door models will compete with the A1 3/5 door models, while the standard 3/5 door 1 series hatchbacks (what we have today, though future versions will be based on the UKL platform and be FWD) will be in the same segment as the A3 3/5 door hatchbacks.

The 2 Series will be coupe/convertible, so there is no equivalent Audi really. You could count the TT, but the back seat in the coupe is less functional than what the 2 will offer, and the roadster does not have a back seat at all obviously.

Although you could also say that, loosely, the 2 Series GC will compete with the A3 sedan, I suppose. However, the future 1 Series sedan is probably the more natural comparison.

Ah, ok thanks for the clarification. I didn't know 1 series is going to have Urbanic AND "standard" hatch.
So 2 series (kind of) and "standard" 1 series hatch 3/5 doors will still compete with A3.
Urbanic 1 series will compete with A1.
I guess BMW did not want 0 series? haha

I think market wise, TT IS competitor to 2 series more than Z4. Kind of like how we compete against Mercedes CL AND SL with 6 series coupe/convertible/gran coupe in the executive coupe/convertible market segment.

#1 Audis, especially anything less than a5, are a Volkswagen. They are cheap and lack soul and they are a buzz kill to drive. It seems now that in pursuit of profit beem will have to make some of this variety of cars. That doesn't mean the others will suck as well.

#2 BMW will always make a drivers car. You may have to pay more or it now, but they will always have one car that is a pure fun car. The e46 m3 used to be that car, the 1M is currently that car, there will be a successor if the 1M turns into a pussy mobile.

I agree though that there will never gain be a car of the same caliber as the E3x/4x M3s.

I personally am going to grab up a couple of them right now while the supply of used, actually good ones is plentiful because it seems that the well will soon run dry. Haha.

I agree though that there will never gain be a car of the same caliber as the E3x/4x M3s.

Never is a long time

A lot of people said the same thing about cars in the 70s when EPA standards clobbered the hell out of Detroit's offerings. Cars went from 300 HP factory beasts to 170 HP out of 6L V8s. It was terrifying, but look at where we are today.

The E3x couldn't be built today because of two factors:

1) Safety requirements

2) Our current building materials

In order to build a car as light and focused as the E3x, you'd have to either ditch all the extra safety engineering (not possible because of gov't regulation) or use advanced materials (carbon fiber), which is currently too expensive.

Looking toward the future, I think we'll see a second coming of the E3x spirit. I think it might even be an electric. DARPA just introduced a significant program that seeks to improve battery capacity by 5x. A 5x improvement would mean much smaller batteries that deliver the same power.

I also expect that someone will eventually solve the problem of mass production carbon fiber. There's too much money on the table for that problem to go unsolved forever.

Combine advanced battery technology with ultra-light composite materials and you've got a combination that could completely change the way we think about electric vehicles. It could be the second-coming of the enthusiast automobile.

I just joined the site and have no idea how to post a question. So I had to do it here lol. Anyway I have a 2000 328i and cannot figure out the cd changer. Is there a certain radio station it has to be on before it will work? Any info is appreciated guys thanks in advance...